Visible index card holder



March 26, 1940. M. VOGEL 2,195,157

VISIBLE INDEX CARD HOLDER Filed Dec. 5, 1958 INVENTOR IQAX VEJEEL. m ad/744M.

' ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFECE VISIBLE INDEX CARD HOLDER Max Vogel, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application December 5, 1938, Serial No. 243,918

11 Claims; (01. 129-163) The present invention relates to an improve ment in visible index card holder, particularly of the type which is adapted to be secured to the upper edge of an index card to retain it in a 5 supporting frame in seriate arrangement, with a number of such cards in successive overlapping relation. It is an object of the invention to provide a holder which may be engaged with the edge of the card by sliding the card longitudi- 10 nally along the holder, and thereupon will secure- 1y retain the card against both longitudinal and transverse movement, at the same time providing a protective covering for the'edge of the card. It is' particularly proposed to provide a holder 5 formed from sheet metal, and, to the end'bf providing a relatively inexpensive structure which may be produced by efficient manufacturing methods, it is proposed to form the holder from a single piece of sheet metal having its various cooperative parts formed by bending portions-of the metal in relation to other portions along parallelbending lines. Another object is to provide a card having an edge structure adapted to facilitate its engagement with the holder as well as:

to facilitate its removal.

With the above and other objects in view,an'

embodiment of the invention is shown in" the accompanying drawing, and this embodimentwill be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be linally 40 the intermediate portion being; broken away and showing the cross-sectional shape.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing'the card engaged in the holder, the intermediate portion being broken away and showing the cross-sec- 45 tional shape. f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front ele'vationof the left hand end portion of the holder. it being understood that the right hand end portion is of identical but'reversed construction Fig. 5 is a top edge viewthereof. r Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line 55- 1--1 of Fig. 4. 1 l

, the card being engaged therewith.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and showing the card engaged in the holder. 1 Fig. 9 is a top edge view thereof. v H Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line l0l0 of Fig. 8. I p

Fig. 11 is a top edge View of the left hand end of the holder and showing the right hand edge of Fig. 12 is a top view showing the manner in' which the card is slightly bent at its end to dis-" engage it from the holder, the left hand edge of the card being shown just prior to" its being withdrawn from the holder. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the frame containing a'series of holders andcards. a

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of aretaining follower member employed in cooperation with the frame. g v

Similar reference characters indicate corre'-" sponding partsthroughout the several figures of 2 the drawing. 7 Referring to the drawing the holder, which is bent from sheet metal, comprises a backer base portion ll] of elongated rectangular form having a flange H extending the full length of its lower 25 edge and bentupwardly into contacting relation with its front surface, the upper edge of this" flangebeing spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the base and adapted to constitute a card retaining abutment Il as will hereinafter more, 30 fully appear. Y

. At each end of the holder there is provided.

at the upper edge of the base a flange portion 12, corresponding substantially in width to the width of the base and bent downwardly .over the forward surfaces of the base In and the flange II in contacting relation with the flange Hand constituting an end abutment 12 for the card, as will presently more fully appear. Along the upper edge of the base ll] between the end-40 flanges ii! there is provided a flange l3,.the ends of which are spaced from the inner abutment edges I2 of the flanges I2, this flange l3 being bent downwardly at the forward side of the base II] in parallel spaced relation to the forward face and which is of a widthsubstantially corresponding to the transverse width of the space between the upper abutment edge I I of the flange i l and the inner surface of the fold of the flange l3, so that such flange i5 is adapted for sliding engagement in said space. The ends of the flange are cut at an angle, as at it, which is adapted to facilitate the insertion and removal of the card, as will presently more fully appear. The card is preferably provided with a score line H, which in the engaged relation with the holder is slightly below the lower edge of the holder, and provides a hinge line for the purpose of swinging the card from flat closed position to an upright open position.

As shown in Fig. 11 the card is inserted in the holder by first engaging the end of the upper edge in the space beneath the flange l3 and above the abutment flange H, the inclined end 16 of the card flange l5 facilitating the insertion by eliminating square corners at the ends of the flange which might catch upon the edges of the holdr and guiding the lower edge of the flange I5 into parallel engagementwith the upper abutment edge I! of the flange II, even though the card may not be parallel as it is inserted. The inclined ends it also render the ends of the upper margin more flexible, which facilitates insertion. The card is then drawn longitudinally along the holder until its end edges engage in abutting relation within the inner abutment edges |2 of the end flanges lithe longitudinal dimension of the card being designed so that it fits the holder in this manner. The in serted card is therefore firmly'retained against both longitudinal and transverse movement. In order to disengage the card one'end portion is bent slightly outwardly as shown in Fig. 12, so

as to disengage the end edge of the card from the inner abutment edge I2 of the flange l2, whereupon the card may be withdrawn from the holder, the inclined cuts l6 preventing any possibility of the flange ends catching upon the abutment edges 12*.

I have shown in Fig. 13 a series of card holders, certain of which have cards attached, and arranged in aframe member iii of rectangular form having flanges 9 at each of its longitudinal edges bent inwardly in spaced relation to'the base, the width of these flanges being slightly less than the longitudinal dimension of the flanges it, so that the flanges I?! may be engaged beneath the flanges E9 to be retained thereby, while the end edges of the cards are inwardly spaced from the edgesof the flanges iii. The cards may therefore be conveniently inserted and removed, if desired, without removing the holders from the frame.

At the upper end of the frame there is provided a metal cover member 2!) hinged, as at 21, and which will close down upon the upper card in the frame, being of sufficient weight to retain such card in substantially flat closedposition, the retaining of this upper card also retaining the remaining cards which are beneath it, each card being offset with respect to the next card a distance corresponding to the width of the holder.

A retaining follower plate 22 is provided for retaining of the holders and cards in the upper portion of the frame, this plate being of a width slightly greater than the width of the cards, so that its lower edge will be exposed below the lowermost card in the frame. The follower plate isprovided with spring finger portions 23 at its side marginal portions which engage beneath the flanges I9 to thus frictionally retain the follower in any position to which it is moved. The lower edge of the follower is provided with an upwardly bent finger engaging flange 24.

The holders, either with or without the cards attached, may be inserted in the frame from the end, or they may be engaged at an intermediate point by placing one of the end portions I2 beneath one flange l9 with the holder in a diagonal position and then swinging the other end flange I2 beneath the other flange l9. Theymay be similarly disengaged.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention,

member, and pocket forming means comprising a portion extending .forwardly from the upper edge of said strip member to provide a top wall in opposed transversely spaced relation to said longitudinal abutment means, and a downwardly extending wall portion disposed in forwardly spaced relation to said strip member and extending below said longitudinal abutment means in forwardly spaced relation thereto, at least one end of said front wall portion terminating in longitudinally spaced relation to one of said transverse abutment means.

2. A visible cardindex holder, comprising an elongated strip member, transverse abutment means contiguous to each end of said strip member, longitudinal abutment means extending between said transverse-abutment means in spaced parallel relation to the upper edge of said strip member, and pocket forming means comprising a portion extending forwardly from the upper edge of said strip member to provide a top wall in opposed transversely spaced relation to said longitudinal abutment means, and a downwardly extending wall portion disposed in forwardly spaced relation to said strip member and extending below said longitudinal abutment means in forwardly spaced relation thereto, the ends of said front wall portion terminating in longitudinally spaced relation to said transverse abutment means. e 3. A visible card index holder, comprising an elongated strip member, transverse forwardly projecting abutment means contiguous at each end of said strip member, longitudinal forwardly projecting abutment means extending between said transverse abutment means'in spaced parallel relation to the upper and lower edges of said strip member, and pocket forming means comprising a flange portion parallel to and extending forwardly from the upper edge of said strip member to provide a top wall in opposed parallel transversely spaced relation to said longitudinalabutment, means, and a downwardly extending wall portion disposed in forwardly spaced parallel relation to said strip member and, extending below said longitudinal abutment means in forwardly spaced relation thereto, at least one end of said front wall portion terminating in longitudinally spaced relation to one of said transverse abutment means.

4. A visible card index holder, comprising an means comprising a portion extending forwardly from the upper edge of 'saidjstrip member to provide a top wall in opposed transversely spaced relation to said longitudinal abutment'means, and

a downwardly extending wall'portion disposedin forwardly spaced relation to said strip member and extending below said longitudinal'abutmentl means in forwardly spaced relation; thereto, the

ends of said front wall portion terminatingin' longitudinally spaced relation to said transverse abutment means.

5. A visible card index holder, comprising an elongated strip member, transverse abutment means contiguous to each end of said strip member, longitudinal abutment means extending between said transverse abutment means in spaced parallel relation to the upper edge of said strip member, and pocket forming means comprising a portion extending forwardly from the upper edge of said strip member to provide a top wall in opposed transversely spaced relation to said longitudinal abutment means, and a downwardly extending wall portion disposed in forwardly spaced relation to said strip member and extending below said longitudinal abutment means in forwardly spaced relation thereto, at least one end of said front wall portion terminating in longitudinally spaced relation to one of said transverse abutment means, and a card adapted to be inserted in said holder having a longitudinal abutment at its upper marginal portion adapted to be inserted longitudinally into the pocket between said strip member and wall portion through the space at the end of said wall portion.

6. A visible card index holder, comprising an elongated strip member, transverse abutment means contiguous to each end of said strip member, longitudinal abutment means extending between said transverse abutment means in spaced parallel relation to the upper edge of said strip member, and pocket forming means comprising a portion extending forwardly from the upper edge of said strip member to provide a top wall in opposed transversely spaced relation to said longitudinal abutment means,- and a downwardly extending wall portion disposed in forwardly spaced relation to said strip member and extending below said longitudinal abutment means in forwardly spaced relation thereto, at least one end of said front wall portion terminating in longitudinally spaced relation to one of said transverse abutment means, and a card adapted to be insertedtween said transverse abutment means in spaced parallel relation to the upper edge of said strip member, and pocket forming means comprising a portion extending forwardly from the upper edge of said strip member to provide a top wall in opposed transversely spaced relation to said longitudinal abutment means, and a downwardly exlow-said longitudinal abutmentmeans in forwardly spaced relation-thereto, at least one end folded down at its: upperedge to provide a dou ble "thickness marginal portion, adaptedto be inserted-longitudinallyinto the pocket'between said strip member'and wall portion through the space at the end of said wall portion, the edgeof said'flange at its endslbeing inclined.

8. 'A' visible card 'index I holder comprisingan elongated-strip including a base portion of elon-- gated rectangular form, a longitudinally extending flange bent upwardly from the lower longitudinal edge of said base portion in overlying contacting relation to the front surface of said base portion, the upper edge of said flange being disposedin spaced and parallel relation to the tending wall' portion disposed in forwardly spfaced relation to'said strip member and extending-ice"- upper edge of said base portion, flange portions v at each end of said base portion bent downwardly from the upper edge thereof overlying and engaging the front surface of said upwardly bent flange, and'a pocket forming flange extending forwardly from the upper edge of said baseportion and downwardly in spaced parallel relation gated rectangular form, a longitudinally extending flange bent upwardly from the lower longitudinal edge of said base portion in overlying contacting relation to the front surface of said base portion, the upper edge of said flange being disposed in spaced and parallel relation to the upper edge of said base portion, flange portions at each end of said base portion bent downwardly from theup-per edge thereof overlying andengaging the front surface of said upwardly bent:

flange, and a pocket forming flange extending forwardly from the upper edge of said base portion and downwardly in spaced parallelrelation ,to the front surfaces of said base portion and said upwardly bent flange, the lower edge of said pocket'forming flange being below the upper edge of said upwardly bent flange, and the end edges of said pocket forming flange being in inwardly spaced relation to the inner edges of said downwardly bent flanges, and a card adapted to be inserted in said holder having an upper marginal abutment portion of a width substantially corresponding vto the width of the space between said pocket forming, flangeand the front surface of said base and adapted to be inserted longitudinally into said space through one of the spaces elongated strip member, transverse abutment means contiguous to an end of said strip member; longitudinal abutment means extending between the ends of said strip member in spaced paral el mlafii n to he upns sase at $9 strip memb r and ck t firmin m ns amp; g a po tion exten in forw reily f om th? u pe ed of said rip m m 0 prov q t p wa l in pp sed transve se y s ace rel yi n o sa d n itu i a ab m nt meaw a d do nward xt n n a o t on dis o d inw rdly paced ti t d str m m r nd W nding b l w sa d lo it dm a utmen fi ns 11.

forward-1y spaced relation iph ere tg, at lggst one d of sa d fmn l ort o t mina 11 1- gitudinally spac ed relatiqn to gaid transverse ab tme t eans- A s e sa d nd x lde omp i ng an elqnggt ed strip member, transverse 'abutmgnt means c n g u m n nd o d s p mum 1 1 Di fi m fro Wa po on n ina i in lqngituqipally spaced relation .to an ,end of said. r p memba Y 

